Issued: 7:06 AM PDT Saturday, April 3, 2021
by Robert Hahn

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I

Weather Synopsis

The closed upper low ambling down the coastline sits off the southern tip of the Alaska Panhandle early Saturday morning. The has brought cloud cover to much of the Pacific Northwest. WSW winds ahead of the low continue to transport milder air into the region into the day on Saturday. Temperatures Friday night remained in the 30s at many NWAC locations. Radar coverage at present depicts scattered shower activity brushing the NW tip of the Olympic Peninsula. The bands of rain and snow showers should edge southward, impacting Hurricane Ridge and Mt. Baker by Saturday afternoon. Expect an inch or less of snow at elevations above 5000 ft.

The rain and snow become moderate Saturday night in the Mt. Baker and Mountain loop areas. Other portions of the Washington Cascades should experience some light rain and snow after midnight. Ridgeline winds increase/peak in the moderate range as temperatures cool across the region.

Very light snow showers generally decrease across the region on Sunday with the upper low drifting over the region. However, a switch from W to NE winds could result in some local upslope precipitation in portions of the NE Olympic mountains. With cooler temperatures in place, this arrives primarily as snow.

We expect up to 6" of snow from this weak storm with the most near Mt. Baker.

Weather Forecast

Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
Use dropdown to select your zone
Saturday Cloudy in the morning with light rain and snow showers developing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow showers.
Saturday Cloudy in the morning with light rain and snow showers developing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Moderate rain and snow decreasing by morning.
Saturday Thickening clouds.
Saturday Night Light to moderate rain and snow.
Saturday Mostly cloudy with filtered sunshine possible at times.
Saturday Night Light rain and developing, most likely after midnight.
Saturday Thickening clouds.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow more likely to develop from late evening onward.
Saturday Thickening clouds.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow more likely to develop from late evening onward.
Saturday Mostly cloudy with clouds thickening.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow showers.
Saturday Mostly cloudy with clouds thickening.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow showers more likely to develop from late evening onward.
Saturday Mostly cloudy with filtered sunshine at times.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening with a chance of light rain and snow showers in the early morning hours.
Saturday Mostly cloudy with filtered sunshine at times.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with filtered clear sky at times.

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
5 am - 5 pm 5 pm - 5 am 5 am - 5 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0.50 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Paradise 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
White Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.25 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 LT 0.10
Timberline 0 0 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics 5500' 5000' 5000' 4000' 2500' 2500'
West North 5000' 5000' 5000' 3500' 2500' 2500'
West Central 5500' 6500' 5500' 4500' 3000' 2500'
West South 6500' 7000' 6500' 5500' 4500' 3500'
Stevens Pass 6000' 7000' 6000' 5500' 3500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 6500' 7000' 6000' 5500' 4000' 3000'
East North 5500' 7000' 6000' 5000' 4000' 3500'
East Central 6500' 7000' 6500' 5500' 4500' 3500'
East South 7000' 7500' 7000' 6000' 5500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 8500' 8500' 8500' 8500' 6000' 5500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Morning 5500'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 4000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Morning 5000'
Saturday Afternoon 5000'
Saturday Evening 5000'
Saturday Night 3500'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Morning 5500'
Saturday Afternoon 6500'
Saturday Evening 5500'
Saturday Night 4500'
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Morning 6500'
Saturday Afternoon 7000'
Saturday Evening 6500'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning 6000'
Saturday Afternoon 7000'
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 3500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning 6500'
Saturday Afternoon 7000'
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Morning 5500'
Saturday Afternoon 7000'
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 5000'
Sunday Morning 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Morning 6500'
Saturday Afternoon 7000'
Saturday Evening 6500'
Saturday Night 5500'
Sunday Morning 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Morning 7000'
Saturday Afternoon 7500'
Saturday Evening 7000'
Saturday Night 6000'
Sunday Morning 5500'
Sunday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning 8500'
Saturday Afternoon 8500'
Saturday Evening 8500'
Saturday Night 8500'
Sunday Morning 6000'
Sunday Afternoon 5500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Saturday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 36 / 32 33 / 24
West North 37 / 31 35 / 26
West Central 39 / 31 36 / 27
West South 45 / 32 41 / 32
Stevens Pass 44 / 32 39 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 42 / 35 37 / 30
East North 42 / 27 38 / 29
East Central 44 / 32 39 / 30
East South 48 / 33 43 / 33
Mt. Hood 50 / 33 42 / 34
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 36 / 32
Saturday Night 33 / 24
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 37 / 31
Saturday Night 35 / 26
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 39 / 31
Saturday Night 36 / 27
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 45 / 32
Saturday Night 41 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 44 / 32
Saturday Night 39 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 42 / 35
Saturday Night 37 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 42 / 27
Saturday Night 38 / 29
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 44 / 32
Saturday Night 39 / 30
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 48 / 33
Saturday Night 43 / 33
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 50 / 33
Saturday Night 42 / 34

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night
Olympics SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 5-15 WSW 0-10
West North SSW 5-15 SSW 10-20 WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20
West Central SW 0-10 WSW 5-15 WSW 10-20 W 5-15
West South W 0-10 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 5-15
Stevens Pass WSW 0-10 W 5-15 WSW 10-20 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 0-10 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 10-20
East North SW 5-15 WSW 10-20 WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20
East Central W 5-15 W 5-15 WSW 15-25 W 15-25
East South SW 0-10 W 5-15 W 5-15 W 10-20
Mt. Hood SW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 5-15
Saturday Afternoon SW 10-20
Saturday Evening SW 5-15
Saturday Night WSW 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SSW 5-15
Saturday Afternoon SSW 10-20
Saturday Evening WSW 5-15
Saturday Night WSW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 0-10
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Saturday Evening WSW 10-20
Saturday Night W 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 0-10
Saturday Afternoon W 5-15
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night W 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning WSW 0-10
Saturday Afternoon W 5-15
Saturday Evening WSW 10-20
Saturday Night W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 0-10
Saturday Afternoon W 5-15
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night W 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 5-15
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Saturday Evening WSW 15-25
Saturday Night WSW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning W 5-15
Saturday Afternoon W 5-15
Saturday Evening WSW 15-25
Saturday Night W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 0-10
Saturday Afternoon W 5-15
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night W 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 5-15
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Saturday Evening WSW 15-25
Saturday Night WSW 10-20

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I

Previous forecast from Apr 2, 2021

The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.

The 5000’ temperature forecast does not imply a trend over the 12 hr period and only represents the max and min temperatures within a 12 hr period in the zone. The 6-hr snow level forecast, the forecast discussion, and weather forecast sections may add detail regarding temperature trends.

The snow level forecast represents the general snow level over a 6 hr time period. Freezing levels are forecast when precipitation is not expected.

*Easterly or offshore flow is highlighted with an asterisk when we expect relatively cool east winds in the major Cascade Passes. Easterly flow will often lead to temperature inversions and is a key variable for forecasting precipitation type in the Cascade Passes. Strong easterly flow events can affect terrain on a more regional scale.

Ridgeline winds are the average wind speed and direction over a 6 hr time period.

The wind forecast represents an elevation range instead of a single elevation slice. The elevation range overlaps with the near and above treeline elevation bands in the avalanche forecast and differs per zone.

Wind direction indicates the direction the wind originates or comes from on the 16-point compass rose.

Water Equivalent (WE) is the liquid water equivalent of all precipitation types; rain, snow, ice pellets, etc., forecast to the hundredth of an inch at specific locations. To use WE as a proxy for snowfall amounts, start with a snow to water ratio of 10:1 (10 inches of snow = 1 inch WE). Temperatures at or near freezing will generally have a lower ratio (heavy wet snow) and very cold temperatures can have a much higher ratio (dry fluffy snow).

The label LT, is shorthand for ‘less than’.